Gators Galore in Taylor Creek Water Treatment Area, Okeechobee, Fl.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

While enjoying the winter in Okeechobee, Florida, we had a surprise visit from Kitty's cousin, Freda and her husband Dewey.  They live in Kentucky, but decided to spend some time in Florida to see some family and visit some of the places they had enjoyed in this area many years ago.

One of our favorite local places to show visitors is the Taylor Creek Storm Water treatment area

because it is teeming with wild life, especially gators.  When we told Freda about all the gators in this area that lay along the walking path without any protective barriers, she immediately made it clear she wasn't going anywhere near this place. She broke into a cold sweat when I told her that a gator grabbing her leg would make great blog material!  It took a lot of arm twisting to get her to agree to visit this place.  But, after a few days of  begging, she finally agreed.  We quickly loaded her into the car before she could change her mind.

Taylor Creek Storm Water Treatment area is a natural way to clean some of the storm water runoff in Taylor Creek.  It also makes an ideal wild life preserve where you can see many different types of birds, gators, and many other animals in a natural setting with no fences or barriers.  Walk the path at your own risk and do not bring your dog here.  They make great gator bait!

Here we are before walking the path.  Notice, we still have all of our arms and legs!

L to R: Freda, Dewey, Kitty, and me.

Our first encounter was with these wood storks.  No, these are not the kind that deliver babies!

This Egret has no regrets!

"Lets get your ducks in a row!"

The Great Blue Heron is on the left.

The great blue Kitty is on the right!

Two Double Breasted Cormorants are keeping an eye on us. (does that add up to four breast?)

This place would keep the Gators Boys busy for awhile!

This guy didn't see the "No Swimming sign!"

Ah...I don't think you are suppose to lay on that.  Would someone tell him to get off that thing?!!

 

 I risked life and limb to get this picture and he never took his eye off me, and I was thankful he didn't take a leg off me!

"Here gator gator!"

 Get ready to run.  He looks a little agitated!

I hope he's not looking for his next meal!

This Anhinga just dove under water for his lunch and is drying his feathers.  Either that, or he just put on his deodorant!

A Blue Heron.

We all had a really fun day!  We counted 27 gators and no one lost an arm or leg. We could all hear a large sigh of relief from Freda as we returned to the car!  I think she might even come back to Taylor Creek Storm Water Treatment area some day.